【推荐1】The management of a software company decided to teach its employees about finding real _______ to solve problems.

When called to play a _______ in a hall, the team of 30 employees was quite _______ holding various thoughts. As they entered the hall, they found the hall _______ decorated, with coloured lights on the wall. Everyone looked at each other and then _______ a huge box of balloons at the centre. They were _______ to pick a balloon and blow it up. And the team leader asked them to _______ their names on their balloon. All tried to do that, but not everyone _______ it. A few balloons burst due to pressure and yet they were given _______ chance. Those who _______ even after the second chance were ruled out of the game. In all, 25 employees were left for the next _______. All the balloons were collected and the team leader asked the employees to _______ the balloon with their names marked. Also, he told them no balloon should be _______.

The 25 employees began to _______ the balloons carrying their names in a rush. However, they had to be very _______. It was almost 15 minutes and no one was able to find his own balloon.

Now it was the third and final level. The employees were asked to pick any balloon in the room and give it to the person _______ on the balloon. Within a couple of minutes all the balloons reached _______ employee.

The team leader said that this was the real way to solve problems. Often everyone is crazily _______ ways to solve problems without recognising the _______ way. Most of the time, _______ and helping others can give you the tools you need to deal with all problems.

【推荐3】Yesterday, a salesman called me by phone, on behalf of a telecommunication company, to sell his phone plans. I was at work and while I usually don't like spending time on those conversations, I _________myself that I couldn't talk yet and _________ that he call me back one hour later, at 6 pm.

That's what he did. So we _________about 15 minutes. He explained to me his different phone plans, which he stated to be better than my _________one. While listening to him, sometimes I was lost in my thoughts. I gave several “hmm hmm”, as a sign of agreement and to _________that I was still there. Sometimes, I felt a bit _________ , especially as he had a bit of difficulty in correctly talking in French. But I stayed calm and _________until the end of the discussion.

Finally, he expressed his _________to me: “Olivier, you are the first person in a long time, with whom I had a(n) _________conversation. Usually, people ____________at us and slam down the phone. Today, since 10 a.m. I hadn't had ____________without an offense. I know you had a long day at work and you could have ____________in front of your TV or done something else. ____________, you listened carefully to me. I am touched and I sincerely thank you.”

It set me thinking. I realized that he had been the ____________of language violence (暴力)，all through his working days. Yet, he was only doing his job. I felt a sense of____________that I hadn't treated him so rudely.

【推荐1】One day, a young lady was standing at the street comer with a ______ in her hand. She looked _______. Several people passed by, looked at her but did not stop. I wondered why. Maybe it was because of the ______ she was dressed. She wore a dirty dress and looked ______.

As I crossed the street and came closer to her I asked her ______ she wanted help. She thanked me and smiled in ______. As it turned ______, she was looking for the hospital. I felt wonderful just ______ out, and taking that extra moment to help.

Many times in these situations I ______ up walking a person to where he or she is going when giving directions would be too ______. I like helping people this way due to my own ______. Many years ago, we traveled in Japan and needed the ______. A kind Japanese who saw our problem came to us and helped us out. This man just took my heavy bags and ______ us to where we needed to be, we could not speak any ______ while the man could not speak any English. Although we could not communicate through ______ we communicated through the heart.

Sometimes when I ______ special favor for a ______, the person will say, “I   hope I can do ______ for you one day to return the favor.” They already have done something for me by giving me the opportunity to help them. But I hope that when they come ______ a situation where someone needs their help, they will be ______ to reach out as well.

【推荐2】Every year about 40,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. They ______ with them lots of waste. The ______ might damage the beauty of the place. The glaciers (冰川) are disappearing, changing the face of Kilimanjaro.

Hearing these stories, I’m ______ about the place — other destinations are described as “purer” natural experiences.

However, I soon ______ that much has changed since the days of disturbing reports of ______ among tons of rubbish. I find a ______ mountain, with toilets at camps and along the paths. The environmental challenges are ______ but the efforts made by the Tanzania National Park Authority seem to be ______.

The best of a Kilimanjaro ______, in my opinion, isn’t reaching the top. Mountains are ______ as spiritual places by many cultures. This view is especially evident on Kilimanjaro as ______ go through five ecosystems within a few kilometers. At the base is a rainforest. It ends suddenly at 3, 000 meters, ______ lands of low growing plants. Further up, the weather ______ — low clouds envelop the mountainsides, which are covered with thick grass. I counted twelve shades of green from where I stand. Above 4, 000 meters is the highland desert: gravel (砾石), stones and rocks. ______ you climb into an arctic-like zone with permanent (永久的) snow and the glaciers that may soon disappear.

Does Kilimanjaro deserve its reputation as a crowded mountain with lines of tourists ______ the atmosphere of peace? I found the opposite to be true.

【推荐1】Once a boy really had everything he wanted, so he was only interested in the rarest objects. One day he found a mysterious mirror and took it home. When he looked into the mirror, he found that his face looked very sad. He tried smiling , but it remained the same. Surprised, the boy went off to buy some sweets. He went home and looked into the mirror as happily as possible,but his image was still sad-looking. He bought all kinds of toys, but he looked forever_________in that mirror. So the boy put the mirror away in a_________."What a(n)_________mirror! I’ve never seen a mirror that didn’t_________properly!"

That same afternoon he went out to play, but on his_________to the park he saw a little girl crying loudly. So he went over to see what was happening. The little girl told him that she had_________her parents. Together, they_________in search of them. As the little girl continued crying, the boy_________his money in buying sweets to cheer her up._________, after walking for a long time, they found her parents, who looked very worried. The boy said goodbye, and walked off towards the park. But__________the time, he decided to turn around and head__________home, as he had no time to__________.

At home, he went to his room and noticed a shining__________in the corner that he had left the mirror in. Seeing this, he went over to the mirror and__________that the light was coming from his own body, because he was so happy at having helped that little girl. And so he understood the mystery of that mirror, the only mirror reflecting faithfully the__________joy of its owner.

【推荐3】I planted two seeds side by side in the soil in my backyard. The first said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots _________ into the soil, and try to _________. I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face!” and it grew. The second seed said, “I am _________. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will meet in the _________. If I push my way through the hard soil, I may damage my small sprouts (新芽). What if a small child may pull me _________ from the ground? No, it is much better for me to wait _________ safe.” A hen walking around for food found the waiting seed and immediately ate it.

I sometimes _________ myself — What if I stop focusing on the worst and to go for the _________? Most people can do unusual things if they have the confidence to take the _________. Yet most people don’t. There are lots of people __________ on the sofa saying: I’m going… They will do it when they are rich and when they get married and their children are perfectly grown.

The __________ is that your life can never be perfect. Part of it might be, though. Step away from the sofa sitters who are __________ a single perfect day to begin __________ their dreams.

Believe in yourself and know that you can do __________! However, those who __________ to risk get controlled by life finally.